Ottawa Kills Millions in Road Project for Mass Transit

"The plan also includes recommendations for the order in which the city's new light-rail plan should be built, and better cycling and pedestrian routes.

Schepers said she believes if the city follows the recommendations presented by planning staff, it "will benefit all citizens for the next 100 years."

Under the plan, the spine of the light-rail system, including a downtown tunnel, will be built over the next 20 years, in three phases as the money becomes available.

The first phase, costing $1.7 billion would see a downtown tunnel built and a light-rail line running through it and along the current bus Transitway from Blair Road to Tunney's Pasture. This phase would also see the completion and expansion of the dedicated busway."